Hockey Independent

Kadri’s NHL Debut

Two Leafs players have food poisoning, so Nazem Kadri is an emergency call up for tonight’s game. No word as of what line he will be playing on just yet, but one thing is for sure this will be an interesting sneak peak at what Kadri and Kessel could bring to the club next season.
This [...]

Don’t stop believin’

The 2009-10 Los Angeles Kings have overcome not only their own issues as a team, but how the league viewed them heading into the season. Now, this Kings team is proving exactly what they are capable of; of course in “cardiac” style.

Blackhawks: Dialing for D-Men?

As the Pre-Olympics roster freeze and March trade deadline get ever closer, there is debate about the Hawks’ perceived need on defense. From the Chicago hockey media to Blackhawk fan boards, the questions are being asked: does the team need a d-man; what kind; who; and how much should they pay for this rental player?
While [...]

The Streak ENDS at 10! B’s shutout the Habs

Today was one of those days that it is better to be lucky than good. The Bruins get off the schnide by heading up to Montreal and taking out the Habs 3-0 in a Superbowl Sunday matinee. While the game was not nearly as exciting as the Caps v Pens tilt earlier in [...]

Dull Rivals: Boston Versus Montreal Lacks Familiar Fire

Growing up in Boston, the hatred for the Montreal Canadiens is instilled in you through your parents, your friends, or in most cases the Habs knocking the Bruins out of the playoffs routinely. The Canadiens didn’t like the Bruins, and the Bruins deplored the Habs and their 24 Stanley Cups. Throughout their entire history the [...]

A Night of Technical Difficulties

by Brenna Solop
I need to take a moment here and vent about last night. After all, blogging is nothing if not therapeutic. As usual, the Islanders delivered a clunker, losing 3-1 to those fabulous resurgent Carolina Hurricanes. Matt Moulson’s face for the entire game pretty much symbolized the mood of the team right now. Of [...]

Sharks Slip By Predators 4-3

Ryan Suter summed it up best in his post game remarks when he said that the effort put forth by the Predators against the Sharks would beat most teams in the NHL. Unfortunately, the effort the Predators brought to the ice was not quite enough as the Sharks edged the Preds by a 4-3 margin.
In [...]

Saturday Night Special – 3-1 Win and Henrik Stellar in Net for NYR

Tonight the Rangers faced off against the Devils and their new acquisition (rental) Kovalchuk and proceeded to play well against them at MSG.  Lundqvist was simply all world in net tonight, and had to be that way in the 3rd as the Devils were desperately trying to get back in the game.  In addition to [...]

Bruins making history, and not in a good way

Boston fans did think this would be a historic season. They were hoping this team would be well on their way to paving a road to Lord Stanley’s Cup. Instead the Hub faithful have been whispering about a different history in the making. After dropping their 10th straight, the B’s head to Montreal, one loss [...]

Habs vs. Pens Gameday, Live blog at TCL!

Follow George Prax as he provides live updates from today’s Habs vs. Pens game!

Don’t Spill Biron My Jersey

by Brenna Solop
On this cold and wintry night, listening to my garbage cans take off down the street, I think I’ll travel back to warmer days.
It was last spring – chicks were hatching, baby bunnies were taking their first hops, and the aromas of hope and Shake Shack hung in the air, given that the [...]

Groundhog foreshadows more epic Penguins-Capitals wars

Like the acerbic film Groundhog Day, Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller was forced to experience the same painful thing again and again and again last Monday: watching in horror as Sidney Crosby fired the puck at him from three different angles and scored three times in a 5-4 Pittsburgh victory over the Sabres.  Crosby scored his 35th, 36th [...]

Enough Is Enough – It’s Time For A Change In Buffalo!

First, I want to start by giving my condolences to Brian Burke and his family on the loss of his son, Brendan.  I have a young daughter, and the thought of anything happening to her is unimaginable.  The Father and Son story on Brian and Brendan, earlier this year, is one of the greatest sports [...]

TRAGEDY FOR THE BURKES: Brian Burke’s Son Dies in Car Crash

Earlier this season, an amazing story came out as Brendan Burke “came out”, a college hockey assistant coach with a legendary gruff father who has a Stanley Cup ring and Havard degree. It was one of the better stories of the year as the stoic father accepted and embraced his son. I defy anyone to [...]

Victim of Expectations

Dion Phaneuf, as of right now, is not a Norris trophy candidate.
Phaneuf took the National Hockey League by storm in his rookie season, producing 20 goals as a 20-year-old defenseman. He then had a successful sophomore campaign, breaking the 50-point barrier. In his third year, he had a 10-point increase and produced 60 points, gaining [...]

Sharks Rest and Rumors

When the Olympics roll around in just about a week, the San Jose Sharks will be sending eight players to compete for their respective countries. Included in this group: the team’s three best forwards (Thornton, Heatley, Marleau), their top defense pairing (Boyle, Murray), their second-line center who plays in all situations (Pavelski), and both goaltenders(Nabokov, [...]

The Curious Case of Marek Svatos

Svatos seems to be playing his NHL career in a rather curious fashion.  Svats first year in the league saw him playing like a crafty veteran, slipping between the defense to set up in front of the net.  Snipping was his game and he was good at it, putting up 32 goals in the 2005-06 [...]

Team Press Release Confirms Lightning Ownership Change / Vinik’s First Interview (Video)

Today, the Lightning issued the following press release confirming hedge fund owner Jeffrey Vinik as the new Lightning owner. It looks as if previous owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie will not have any part in the new management team. GM Brian Lawton is expected to remain on board in the same capacity.
TAMPA BAY – [...]

Concerns, Needs and Solutions

The Hawks have some things to be concerned with going down the stretch and heading into the playoffs. 
Missing out on Ilya Kovalchuk isn’t one of them because Chicago wasn’t a serious player in those  sweepstakes. If you doubt me just consider the package of players Atlanta acquired in exchange for their franchise player. If any combination [...]

10 Questions For Your Friday

Going to take a page out of Eric Engels’ book from Hockeybuzz and ask you guys to answer 10 Habs related questions today. (Sorry Eric. I’ll send you a TCL Hat if you want one).

Predators Bury Avalanche 5-3

The Predators faced another opponent that was just above them in the standings, another big game, this time against the Colorado Avalanche. For a team that has struggled recently, every game takes on a new significance. Every game represents two critical points. And every game is going to be a battle. The team that would [...]

PP, PK rounding into form for steady Penguins

After the last hats were swept from the Mellon Arena ice this past Monday, the Penguins began a well-deserved, season-high four-day break.  Since returning from a five-game road trip through Minnesota, Toronto and Western Canada, Pittsburgh has played solid, if unspectacular hockey, posting a 5-2-0 record.  Of note, three of the wins were by one [...]

Devils Get Kovalchuk!

Not much to say except let’s get right to the details…
Devils gave up:
Johnny Oduya- 40 gp: 2-2-4 +2 18PIM 0 pp goals – Will be missed, but is not irreplaceable.
Niclas Bergfors- 54 gp: 13-14-27 -7 10PIM 8 pp goals – Started out great, bu has slowed down drastically. As with Oduya, not irreplaceable.  
Patrice Cormier- We all saw [...]

Scandella Suspended Indefinitely

In the wake of the Kovalchuk trade, there’s another vicious elbow to the head that has rewarded an indefinite suspension in the QMJHL. Val D'Or Foreurs defenceman Marco Scandella has been suspended indefinitely for his elbow during Wednesday night's game.

Kovalchuk A Devil

It's a done deal:

Devils acquire Kovalchuk and Salmela in exchange for Bergfors, Cormier, Oduya and a 1st round pick.

I also just got word that now that the Kovalchuk trade is complete, teams are frantically running around in the domino effect to get their offers in for Exelby.

Just kidding…

Micheal A. Aldred

FATAL FOUR WAY LIVE BLOG: With Special Guest Ken Belanger! Islanders @ Tampa

I haven’t done a live blog chat in a while. I used to do these all the time back on Hockeybuzz in the day. So, deciding to do one, I went to my Tampa blogger WB Philp and to my old buddy, Hockeybuzz’s own Jon Jordan, to put something together. In my opinion, these are [...]

Bruins Begin Do Or Die Stretch With Rivaled Habs

They say that tonight’s game is a must win for the Boston Bruins. Then again, haven’t the last eight?
With a vanishing offense, suspect defense, and a “now you see me, now you don’t” goaltending, the Bruins have gone on to lose eight games in a row almost at will. Over that span, the team has [...]

Phaneuf Wants Playoffs

It didn't take long for Dion Phaneuf to make an impact on the Leafs. Not only did he throw 6 hits in the game on Saturday, but fans got a look at his incredlble one-timer release, and his physicality on the back end. He has been playing with Luke Schenn on the penalty kill, Francois [...]

Kovalchuk Turns Down $101M

The Atlanta Thrashers GM, Don Waddell, has told TSN that Ilya Kovalchuk turned down a $101M dollar contract from the organization. "Our goal from the start of this negotiating process was to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term contract," said Waddell in the statement. "During the process, Kovy affirmed his desire to be a Thrasher for [...]

Rangers Drop out of Kovalchuk Sweeps

The New York Rangers are believed to be officially out of the Kovalchuk sweepstakes, or at least until the asking price on the rental drops. According to NY Post reporter Larry Brooks, posting via his Twitter account, the Thrashers are looking for a combination of packages that include: defenseman Marc Staal; defenseman Michael Del Zotto [...]

Vinik Tenatively Agrees To Purchase Lightning

According to Tampa Bay.com: “A tentative agreement apparently has been reached in the proposed sale of the Lightning to Boston hedge fund manager Jeff Vinik. A bit more work has to be done and final signatures still are needed, but the process occurring at the NHL offices in New York clearly is in its [...]

GAMEDAY: Habs / Bruins Rivalries Renewed

Update: For a Bruins perspective, check out Wally Brennan’s game blog at this link!
If you could believe it, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins haven’t faced each other since December 4th, one of only two meetings (so far) between the rivals this season. And if the fact that the NHLs biggest and longest rivalry has been [...]

Hitchcock Fired, But That Doesn’t Fix the Defense

The Blue Jackets have finally fired coach Ken Hitchcock.  At this point, the firing was inevitable and I think while there is certainly a feeling of sadness and disappointment within the organization and fan base, it was obviously not working anymore.
While I was clamoring for his firing much earlier in the year, I can understand [...]

Komisarek Done for the Season

Seems that shoulder injury is worse than first thought. He shuts it down for the year as per Bob McKenzie. Yes. This time it's legit.

"Our team doctors have recommended this after a determined effort to rehab the injury without surgery. Having this done immediately is the right thing to do for the Leafs. I am [...]

Capitals Set New Franchise Record. 11 Straight Wins. Dads Get to See It.

I would challenge anybody to provide me with a better scenario for the Capitals’ dads then the one they experienced last night in Boston. I suppose a game 7 resulting in a Stanley Cup would trump last night, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Caps’ dads witnessed a franchise record setting 11th straight win as the Caps bested the Bruins, 4-1.

Huet Starts, Frasor Sits

Antti Niemi is unable to start tonight’s contest. He is under the weather so Cristobal Huet gets the call to face the Blues.
It appears Colin Frasor will be sitting and Dave Bolland will be centering the fourth line.

What Do The Blackhawks Need NOW?

With less than two weeks to the Olympic break, a little over twenty games left, and a winning percentage of .709, the Chicago Blackhawks are on track for 116 points, their best season since 1971-72.
But is it good enough? Fans’ anxiety is rooted in almost fifty years of waiting for another Stanley Cup.
Those who remember [...]

WITT WAIVED: Will Yukon Now Play On Isles Defense?

If you didn’t think the whole Witt leg-thing and him place on IR was fishy….let the reality clang you over the noggin. Brendan Witt, who has looked horrendous and a bad fit on the Islanders backline has been shopped for a while.
It was on our very site when I asked Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey [...]

Game Night: Senators vs Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres return home tonight to face the red hot Ottawa Senators. The Senators (31-21-4) will be looking to extend their winning streak to 10 games and crawl within three points of the Northeast Division leading Sabres.
The Sabres (32-15-7) are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and will be looking to bounce back [...]

Here Come The Blues, Presidents’ Trophy Opportunity….Plus Ladd, Nierdermayer, Kovalchuk and Kaberle Info

The Hawks will play two of their next three contests against the Blues. 
St. Louis will play a chippy, hard hitting style and hope for the best. They can’t be taken lightly as it is always difficult to win the first home game after a long road trip. 
Antti Niemi will get his turn between the pipes. [...]

Veterans? We don’t need no stinkin’ veterans!

The Colorado Avalanche kicked the pants off the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night.  And they did it with the wily rookies.  After a slow start in the first, the Avs got things going and spent enormous amounts of time in the Columbus zone cycling the puck.
So much time that the BJ’s iced it out of [...]

Preds Drop Ten Round Shootout to Coyotes 2-1

Two teams that were mirror images of each other took to the ice in the Sommet Center. Tight checking, limited offensive chances, solid defense were the hallmarks of both squads. It was inevitable that this game would be scoreless after sixty minutes. Scoreless through overtime. And tied going into the 10th round of the shootout. [...]

Post-Game Thoughts: Truculence Personified

Not one player on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2009-10 squad has had their name chanted in the Air Canada Center. It took Dion Phaneuf all of 6 minutes and 51 seconds.
When Travis Zajac had his face plastered into the boards, I just knew we had found our very own Chuck Norris. Then, Phaneuf dropped the [...]

Breaking Rumor: Exelby a King?

Has Garnet Exelby been dealt to the Los Angeles Kings? It’s believed Toronto has acquired a 4th round pick for the defenceman. He was pulled from the game for the entire third period, and there are reports that suggest Los Angeles has acquired him for depth going on their way to the post-season.
TSN has reported [...]